Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding arrested on drug trafficking charges

Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested in Mexico after years on the run, US authorities announced Thursday.

Wedding, 44, is accused of leading a vast and violent transnational drug trafficking operation linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.

According to FBI officials, Wedding oversaw the movement of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California, distributing the drugs across the United States and Canada.

Authorities believe he had been living in Mexico for more than a decade while directing the criminal enterprise.

FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as one of the most significant narcotics traffickers of the modern era, alleging that his organization was responsible for extreme violence, including targeted killings of witnesses.

One such victim, a federal witness scheduled to testify against Wedding, was fatally shot at a restaurant after prosecutors say Wedding placed a bounty on him.

Wedding was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March, with a reward of up to $15 million offered for information leading to his capture. His arrest was carried out with the cooperation of Mexican authorities, and he has since been transferred to the United States, where he is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Federal prosecutors allege that Wedding’s criminal activity escalated after his release from US prison in 2011. He had previously been convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine following a 2009 FBI sting operation and served nearly four years in federal custody.

Investigators estimate that Wedding’s organization trafficked approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine through Southern California alone. Authorities have arrested 36 individuals connected to the network, while the US Treasury Department has sanctioned 19 people tied to the operation.

Law enforcement agencies have seized large quantities of drugs, firearms, and more than $55 million in illicit assets. Mexican authorities recently confiscated dozens of luxury motorcycles, Olympic medals, vehicles, artwork, and other high-value items allegedly linked to Wedding.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing, with multiple suspects still at large and additional rewards offered for information leading to further arrests.